The Book of Zephaniah starts out pretty grim. It is a smiting book. It is about how God is going to smite everyone. It is doom and gloom and the End is Near. Then, the book takes an unexpected turn toward the end. There in the midst of all of this judgment and wrath we find this stunning image of God.

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Who knew the book would end this way? Who knew it would end so full of love and joy? Who knew Zephaniah would be breaking joyful in the end?

Maybe I can describe it this way;

A soldier makes his way down a narrow street in Iraq. There has been gunfire, a small skirmish just ended (if you can call any skirmish small.) He hears the cry of a small child. He goes there to find an infant alone, scared, crying. Another soldier tells him the place is clear.

“What’s with the child?”

“I don’t know. He seems to be alone.”

He decides to stay with the child while the others look for the parents. He kneels down and takes the infant in his arms. The child is afraid. He continues to cry. He is so very tired. The soldier is also a father. He has two small children at home. He takes the infant in his arms, holds him gently against his Kevlar and rocks back and forth. And then he sings, he sings the song he remembered his mother singing to him when he was small and afraid, the song he sings to his own children back home.

“Sleep my child and peace attend thee,

All through the night

Guardian angels God will send thee,

All through the night

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,

Hill and dale in slumber sleeping

I my loving vigil keeping,

All through the night.

He looked down and the infant was asleep. He was safe in his arms.

Did you hear what Zephaniah said, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

God, our mighty warrior, who takes us in his arms in the midst of our fear and the danger of our world and holds us and sings over us. He celebrates us and loves us more than we can imagine. That is the picture of God I want you to carry with you today. The Almighty God, holding you, in love with you, singing over you.

This is the only place in the entire Bible that says that God sings over us. What a tender, beautiful picture. Who would have thought that old hard shell Zephaniah would be the one to give it to us

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night . . .”

That is the beginning petition of an evening prayer from The Book of Common Prayer. I am not Episcopalian, but for decades now I have used The Book of Common Prayer as a vital part of my prayer life. It never fails to inspire or sometimes disturb me, like this opening petition.

To begin with it reminds me that the world does not revolve around me. Not everyone sleeps when I do. Every night when I lay my head down after a long day, many are just getting started. There are those who work. I live in central Florida. It is typically hot here during the day. By hot I mean sometimes your flip-flops melt to the sidewalk. What we lack in heat we make up for in humidity. It is pretty easy to work up a sweat outside. Open the door and step out on the porch. That will do it. For those reasons many road projects are done at night under portable lights. Not only is it safer (less traffic) but also it is far more humane to work in the night heat than the day heat. There are others who work in factories and services that require an overnight shift. While I sleep they will be toiling away providing goods and services that make my life better, maybe even possible. Lord, watch over them.

Some watch while we sleep. When I read that phrase I think of the military. While I am sleeping some soldier, most likely a young adult, stays awake in various posts and places. Lord protect them and bring them home soon. I think of those in law enforcement. Men and women with badges stay awake to keep our cities and communities safe. They stay awake so they can be there when we need them. While I sleep they patrol. Keep them safe. Give them good judgment. I also think of those in the medical profession, from first responders to surgeons. While I sleep they are awake in case we need them. They are there in ambulances and they keep the hospitals running for those who are there and those who might need to be. Of course there are also the firefighters. They watch too. Spending the night away from family ready to respond to our emergencies. Lord watch over all them. Guide their decisions. Give them abundant compassion.

And some will weep. As I lay down to sleep many will not. Some are worrying about an adult son or daughter. The situation they are in keeps them awake. They may lie in bed, but they do not sleep. They can’t sleep. In the dark tears fall. Some have lost someone they love. They do not lie down. They sit. They walk around. They mostly feel lost and empty. Someone has a loved one who is sick. They pray for them and they cry as they pray. For some the pain is their own. They cannot sleep. The possible situations are too numerous to mention. But, I am aware that as I give thanks for my day, there are others who are praying for strength to get through theirs. When I lay down to sleep there are many who will not, because they are in pain. Lord, watch over them. Comfort them. Heal them. Help them as only you can.

Once again I am reminded that I am not the center of the universe. When I check out for the evening, life will go on. People will work at their jobs, people will work to keep others safe, and people will face pain. While I sleep God is still in charge and He will do just fine without my help.

When I read the books of the prophets in the Old Testament I can’t help but feel at least a little sorry for them. They really had some terrible assignments. Sometimes pastors complain about the assignments they get, but I think few could ever compare to the tasks God gave the prophets. They had to denounce things and proclaim judgment against nations. I have never been a very good denouncer, so I think it was a hard task.

But, the truth is that sometimes God asks all of us to do some hard things. Sometimes when God asks us to do something hard there is great reward to it. We love hearing those stories of people who took risks for God and went on to accomplish great things. But, there are other stories too. There are also stories of missionaries who spent nearly their entire lives in a country with little to show for it, according to our standards of success. All they had was the assurance that they were doing the right thing. That comes from within. If you aren’t successful by the standards of our culture you won’t get much encouragement from others. It has to come from inside. It has to come from God. It is the power to get up everyday and do the right thing because you know it is the right thing. Maybe there are some of you reading this right now who are frustrated about this. You know you are doing the right thing, but there doesn’t seem to be any reward for it. I want to encourage you. Keep doing the right thing.

I find it interesting what God told the prophet Ezekiel right after giving him the mother of all bad assignments. He said, “Don’t be afraid though briers and thorns are all around you and scorpions as well.” (Ezekiel 2:6) Now the brier patch is an interesting spiritual image. If you have ever tried to work your way through a brier patch you know how painful and difficult it can be. They prick, tear at the skin, catch at the hair and trip your feet.

The Brier Patch.[i] What a great metaphor for following God in a difficult task. Brier patches are difficult places. I generally try to stay out of them. But, I remember as a kid I would have to work my way though briers to pick blackberries. I don’t know if I have ever mentioned this before, but I love blackberries. The only thing better than blackberries is blackberry cobbler. And my mother could make those. That was my reward for enduring the briers. If I returned with a bucketful of blackberries she would make me a cobbler. It made the pain worth it. Sometimes following God is difficult. Doing the right thing is difficult. But the reward is to know you did the right thing and to know that you honored God with your actions.

But, the brier patch God speaks of is around Ezekiel. Do you remember that old story about Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox? At long last Brer Fox trapped Brer Rabbit and was going to have him for dinner. Ever the trickster, Brer Rabbit tells Brer Fox that he doesn’t want to be eaten, but at least he didn’t throw him in the brier patch. There is nothing worse than being thrown in the brier patch. “Whatever you do,” he said, “Don’t throw me in the brier patch.” The reverse psychology worked and Brer Fox, out of meanness, threw Brer Rabbit into the brier patch. Born and bred in the brier patch, Brer Rabbit laughed as he escaped yet again from his archenemy, Brer Fox.

The Brier patch isn’t just a difficult place. It is also a place of protection. Ezekiel is encircled by the brier patch. Like Brer rabbit it is his protection. It protects him from what is outside of it. The briers are both difficulty and protection. To accept the divine protection of the thorns gets rid of any illusions about the harshness of the world or it’s ability to wound us even when we are doing God’s will. Even when we do God’s work we often emerge with scratches and scars.

Just look at Jesus.

[i] I am thankful to Margaret Odell for her insights into the Brier Patch as a spiritual image, Ezekiel, pp.49-51.

Okay. I have avoided any pushback for a long time. I didn’t want to be thought of as one of those guys who just doesn’t get it. I think I get it. The church in USAmerica is declining. I have read gut-wrenching articles outlining everything that is wrong with the church. I have read blogs about “why we are leaving church” and “why we don’t go to church.” I have been a pastor for just over 30 years now. (Ouch! I did start very young!) Trust me. I know the church isn’t perfect. I have had an angry church member make the motion to cut my salary during a business conference, because he didn’t like the job I was doing. I have received anonymous hate mail over sermons I have preached. (They were about love and being inclusive. I guess grace isn’t as popular as we have been taught.) My very small list of the meanest, most unethical people I have ever met is compiled of people who have served on church boards. So forgive my lack of sympathy for you being offended because you went to a church once and they served you a cold latte!

I want to tell you why I still believe in the church. Even though it is home to some vile people, it is often haplessly behind and is often self-serving, there is another side of church world. It was because of the people and mission of a church that I became a Christian. I was accepted, embraced, loved and made to feel important by people who had no reason to love me other than because they were followers of Christ. I have seen people in the church with little money give generously to help provide for others in need. I have seen people selflessly give and serve others through ministries of the church and community. When I have hurt, it has been church folks who embraced me and loved me and were the comforting hands of God to me. This is the experience of millions of others as well.

Church isn’t perfect. I know. Neither am I. Neither are you.

I have noticed that a lot of the complaints leveled against the church are the same complaints leveled at just about everything else in society. The church is not alone in facing some of these problems. Church leaders wring their hands over what the church is doing wrong because people aren’t as committed to church as they used to be. Newsflash! Business leaders are wringing their hands wondering why their employees aren’t as committed to work as they used to be. And they pay them to come! Have you seen the divorce rate? Could it be that we live in a culture that just isn’t as committed to anything as it used to be?

Church leaders are as anxious as cats not to challenge or require much from people attending church because they might just leave if you do. At the same time business leaders are struggling with employees who have a lack of conflict resolution skills. That hampers the businesses from keeping employees long term and having an enjoyable work environment. Could it be that we live in a culture where people just leave when something happens that they don’t like. Not as many people are willing to stick around and work things out when things don’t go their way.

We live in a culture where many are entertained to death and think they are entitled to having everything go the way they want it whether they put any effort into it or not. By the way, this is across the board, not just any one generation.

So why do we expect people to flock to a community that would dare try to hold each other accountable? That would focus on us changing and becoming the human beings God created us to be? That would require service and selflessness? That teaches that joy comes through service? And even asked for you to give some of your money! Many people leave when they realize this. The people we convinced to show up for the entertainment, celebrity pastors and the latest coffee that all the cool kids are drinking are often unaware of the cost.

I know the church has issues. I have worked for decades to try to help the local church be what God has called us to be. Sometimes I get discouraged. But, when people ask me, “why are there so many hypocrites in the church?” I answer, “Have you ever seriously tried to follow Jesus? It’s hard. That’s why I’m a hypocrite.”

I really believe that there are some good churches out there. If you really want to find one, I believe you can. Most people I know who want to, do.

For many years the Federal Government has been providing free and reduced lunches in public schools for students from low-income families. Today many schools provide breakfast as well. There are political arguments both for and against the government providing these meals. Technically it is known as the National School Lunch Program. It is more commonly known as the free lunch program. The problem with that name is that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Someone has to pay for it. At first you may think that the only one who pays for it is the taxpayer, but you would be wrong.

I know a bit about the free lunch program because I was on it when I was a student. I don’t know how many kids in my school benefited from the free lunch program, but it always seemed to be just a few of us in my class. The other kids who were in it looked and acted so poor. Was I one of them? Did other kids see me that way?

In elementary school the teacher would call your name at the beginning of the day and you would answer by saying, “brought my lunch,” “buying lunch,” or “free lunch.” It was always hard to say “free lunch” out loud. I usually raised my hand and grunted. Soon the teacher knew who all of us free lunchers were and she would save us the embarrassment of having to say anything out loud.

In high school it was even more embarrassing. You did not want anyone else to know you were on the free lunch program, especially any cute girl you liked. In our high school you paid for your lunch in the cafeteria as the line made its way into the serving area. There was a teacher sitting there at a little desk. She collected the money from the students who paid as they passed by her. She had a list of us free lunchers and we told her our names and she checked our names off of the list. Fortunately she learned my name quickly and just smiled at me as I went by and didn’t say anything or immediately mark my name off of the list. I had a little trick I devised. You could pay an additional ten cents and get an extra carton of milk. Everyday I brought two nickels or a nickel and five pennies. I never used a dime because having more than one coin made it look and sound as if you were dropping more money in the box. Unless you were looking closely it provided the illusion that I was paying for my lunch.

I drank two cartons of milk at lunch everyday in high school. I also had milk at home with my breakfast. I drank a lot of milk. My bones are as thick as bridge girders.

I am grateful for the free lunch program. Over the years I am sure it saved my family a lot of money. I am glad I live in a country where we try to take care of those in need by providing some assistance so that hopefully they can break the cycle of poverty. I believe it is the right thing to do.

But, the lunches are not free. The person who receives them pays too. I paid in shame and a feeling of being a little less than the “brought my lunch” and “buying lunch” crowd. More than once I ducked out of line because I was standing next to a girl I liked and did not want her to know I got a free lunch.

It is easy to say that if it bothered me so much I should have just not taken them. But, I was a kid and I did what people in authority told me to do, even in high school. You will find a lot of poor people are that way.

Fortunately, I had friends and teachers who accepted me and loved me and taught me to believe that I was just as smart and my life was just as valuable as anyone else in our school. Turns out they were right. I didn’t pull myself up by my bootstraps. I didn’t “build it” by myself. My life is a culmination of assistance when I was down, friendships that support me and grace that sustains me. I am grateful for all aspects, from programs to people who have helped me have a shot at life. Not everyone is so fortunate. I don’t mind my taxes helping provide lunches in schools. I have been on both sides of this now. I am happy to be on this side of it.

“There is no such thing as a free lunch,” the old saying goes. Take if from a former free luncher, that’s the truth.

I have a friend whose daughter started texting me occasionally. Since I am a pastor she sometimes texts me to tell me she read her Bible. When her family says a prayer before the meal she will sometimes text me to tell me. When her parents are cross with one another she texts me and asks me to pray for them. I am sure they didn’t know that.

One day she was not feeling well. She texted me and asked me to pray for her. She told me that she knew she would be better because she had asked Jesus to heal her. A few hours later I received another text from her. She said that even though she had prayed to Jesus she was feeling worse. A few hours later I received another text that simply said, “Jesus isn’t working.”

I think we have all felt like that at times. We ask Jesus for things and He doesn’t give them to us. We ask for the healing of bodies and relationships and lives. Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn’t. We try really hard to do the right things and treat people the way we know we should and at times we get grief for our efforts. Sometimes Jesus just doesn’t work!

Of course, the biggest part of the problem is our understanding of Jesus. Too often faith in Christ is presented in the form of “what Jesus can do for you.” We are promised that if we will just say a prayer or make a commitment Jesus will go to work full time for us making sure we get what we want and that our lives are awesome. If we believe that is how it works then sooner or later we will be disappointed. Sooner or later we will discover that Jesus doesn’t work.

While a relationship with Jesus does change us and make our lives better and more beautiful than we imagined, being a follower of Jesus is not just about what He can do for us. It is about what we can do for Him. It is about following in His steps and loving the people He loves. Following Jesus is about serving, not being served. It is about loving Him, even when we don’t get what we want.

I have to admit there are times when I am disappointed that Jesus isn’t working for me. But, then I realize that’s not the point.